the end

I have moved (on).

Check it out: Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window

Coke Zero

Dear Coke Zero,

I can taste the difference. And unfortunately, in a taste-off battle between you and regular Coke, you lose every time.

Sincerely,
A concerned consumer

whats on my mind this week

1) A caper is a vegetable. The other day Devin and I were watching Top Chef and someone referred to a caper as a vegetable. And I turned to Devin and said "a caper is a vegetable?" and he said "yes, what did you think it was?" And I guess I had never really thought about it before. Because really - what else could a caper be?

2) The other day I was in the campus photocopy place and a young man (20 or so) asked for thirty colour copies of his resume. And I wanted to tell him that there was no earthly reason to have a resume that was in colour. And that, in fact, it made him look unprofessional. However, as it was clearly none of my business I said nothing.

3) I know that a lot of people are disappointed with how Canada is doing in the Olympics. And I know that I am sad that Canada has so far won no medals. And I read that countries like the US and Russia manage to convert international success into medals 60% of the time, and Canada is only able to do so 30% of the time. But at least as far as the pool is concerned, I am super proud of all the Canadian athletes. What more can you ask from your athletes than personal bests and national records.

4) However, the Olympics have preempted Coronation Street which does not make me happy :)

beauty is more than skin deep, but sometimes you just need to make your skin look beautiful

On Monday I had my first ever facial.

And one of the best parts was that it was free. It was my going-away gift from my boss at my old job and I finally got around to having it. And it was wonderful.

The spa where I had my facial was lovely - and I would definitely go back if I wasn't leaving Victoria forever in less than a month.

The esthetician was very sweet and very calm, and the spa was super "atmospheric". Dim lights, aromatherapy scents wafting through the rooms, very relaxing music playing. And one hour spent making my face looking beautiful! Okay - technically my face didn't look any different afterwards, but I imagine that it is more beautiful on the inside.

Now, if anyone wanted to give me a free facial in the future I certainly wouldn't turn it down. However, I think that if I was going to spend my own money on a spa service, I would spend it on a massage or body treatment, or mani/pedi rather than a facial.

Although - must admit to achieving a bit of a state of zen and feeling an overwhelming sense of calm, and a belief that life is too short to harbour hard feelings.

I think I was meant for a life of reflection and none of this work business. Oh well - I guess I'll find out soon enough.

from the desk (blog) of Simon Beck

this blog post is dedicated to Devin:

"Phelps might reckon he can out-gold Mark Spitz, but without Spitz's matinee-idol looks and trademark '70s porn star moustache, all he'll ever be is a strange humanoid who practises a lot."

p.s. C'mon Canada!! Lucky Day 4!!

40 things about me right now.

1. My uncle once: made mead.

2. Never in my life: have I smoked a cigerette

3. When I was five: my best friend was named Thersea and my current friend Amanda was mean to me - we did not become friends for 11 more years.

4. High school was: interesting and fun and filled with trips to starbucks; although I must admit that I wore very very unflattering clothing.

5. I will never forget: cheating off Alex in a grade 2 spelling test and how badly I felt afterwards. She didn't know how to spell the word either. The word was Chunakh and I still cannot spell it.

6. Once I met: the girl who played Sally Potts on Road to Avonlea

7. There’s this boy I know: and he is wonderful.

8. Once, at a bar: a guy told me I looked like Lisa Loeb. And two months later, another guy, at the same bar, also told me I looked like Lisa Loeb. For what it's worth - I don't look like Lisa Loeb.

9. By noon, I’m usually: ready for a nap.

10. Last night: I watched Planet Earth with Devin

11. If only I had: $1000 a week for life.

12. Next time I go to church: will later this month with Devin's family.

13. What worries me most: is uncertainty.

14. When I turn my head left I see: My room.

15. When I turn my head right I see: A wall.

16. You know I’m lying when: I laugh and say "no, I'm lying"

17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: I don't know... I was six.

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: someone kind and sweet who offered advice

19. By this time next year: I hope to be happily settled, enjoying the present and planning for the future.

20. A better name for me would be: Laura

21. I have a hard time understanding: French

22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: realistically - get an MPA or a PhD. - but I'd like to get an undergrad degree in psychology

23. You know I like you if: I tell you things about myself.

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: my parents

25. Take my advice, never: place limits on yourself

26. My ideal breakfast is: at the Shine Cafe.

27. A song I love but do not have is: the classical music which the song "midnight blue" is sung to.

28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: visit my parents house - they are very nice.

29. Why won’t people: look out for other people and think about how their actions affect others.

30. If you spend a night at my house: I will do my best to take care of you

31. I’d stop my wedding for: I don't know - but I know I would not stop it if I found out that my brother drove his car into the river on purpose just to ruin my big day!

32. The world could do without: violent radicals

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: be surrounded by flying bats

34. My favourite blonde(s) is/are: Devin!

35. Paper clips are more useful than: tacks

36. If I do anything well it’s: be supportive

37. I can’t help but: trust people

38. I usually cry: when I am jet-lagged or sad

39. My advice to my child/nephew/niece: love yourself. love yourself. love yourself.

40. And by the way: "hi mom!"

mail is fun!

I love getting mail. I love sending mail. I really just love mail.

So yesterday I received an envelope full of mail from my former roommate. For the record, it was not very interesting mail - 2 visa bills and some junk mail but still... it was fun to receive an envelope full of mail!

And then today... I am still recovering from the excitment! I received a postcard from my friend Jo from Nice! And I received a beautiful necklace I ordered from etsy! A European postcard and a necklace in the same day! Thank you Mr. Mailman!

the problems of a 20something: Problem #84

When you are 25 and are still ID'ed when you try to buy a scratch-and-win lottery ticket.

the problems of a 20something: Problem #137

It is easy and sometimes fun to be judgmental. However, the older I get the more I realize how destructive it can be.

So the other day I was talking to someone who said something quite judgmental.

Later I relayed the judgmental comment to Devin in a highly judgmental way. So it then occurred to me that not only was I being judgmental, but in being judgmental about someone else being judgmental I was also being a hypocrite. And isn't it worse to be judgmental AND a hypocrite than just to be judgmental?

Is the solution that I should embrace being judgmental in order to avoid being a hypocrite?

Quote of the Day: If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me -Dorothy Parker

why I don't like pants

So in general, I am actually a big fan of pants. However, there is one thing about pants that I find quite annoying. The pant hem. So you buy a pair of pants and they are too long. So you get them hemmed. Problem solved, right? Wrong! Because pants are hemmed to a certain length. Which means that the pants look great when you wear the shoes that the pants were hemmed in. Or any other shoes that are the same height as the shoes that the pants were hemmed it. So if every day you wear one inch heels your pants will always fit. But wear a pair of flats and the pants are too long. The pants drag on the ground. They no longer fit perfectly. Wear a pair of two inch heels and the pair are too short. They show too much of your socks or nylons. They look funny. This creates quite a problem when transitioning from summer shoes to winter shoes, from flats, to heels, to boots.

Pants. Can't live with them, can't live without 'em.

That's what's great about being young and wearing jeans. You buy them too long, walk all over them, destroy the bottoms, and tell your mom it's okay because that's the "style".

you know you're distracted when...

you wash your hair with conditioner. And don't notice until you pick up your shampoo to condition your hair.

why you need your morning coffee to order your morning coffee

Me: Good Morning!
Barista: Good Morning. What can I get for you?
Me: I would like a 16oz, non-fat vanilla... no vanilla... no vanilla.... no London Fog! I would like a 16oz, non-fat London Fog!

Talk about triumphing over adversity!

when a relationship is like an ill-fated moon landing starring Tom Hanks

I think this is a super interesting description of how to make a relationship work.

"It's about taking what you have, and, instead of trying to change it, finding a happy way to live with it. The movie image that just flashed into my head is in "Apollo 13," when the earthbound scientists stand at a table full of stuff representing everything the astronauts have available to them in the capsule. Their job is to rig something from those materials alone.

Being part of a couple is the same way--you both bring certain things to the relationship, and that's what you have to work with. Either you can rig something with it or you can't."

-Carolyn Hax

An Irish Triad

The three most short-lived traces: the trace of a bird on a branch, the trace of a fish on a pool, and the trace of a man on a woman.

- Away, Jane Urquhart

Fun Facts about Wyoming

Dear Governor Freudenthal,

You have my apologies. I was, perhaps, too quick to judge Wyoming. So I will share some fun facts about Wyoming in attempt to educate both myself, and my audience, about the lower 48's least populous state.

1) Wyoming's Nicknames are "Equality State" and "The Cowboy State"
2) Wyoming's Population is 505,907
3) Wyoming's Area is 97,914 square miles. (I am not going to do that math, but if you really wanted to, you could figure out the number of people per square mile)
4) Wyoming's Capital City is Cheyenne (and the population of Cheyenne is 51,507)
5) Wyoming's state mammal is the Bison
6) Wyoming is the birthplace of abstract expressionist artist Jackson Pollock
7) Wyoming is famous for Yellowstone National Park, being the home where the buffalo roam, agriculture and dude ranches.

These fun facts courtesy of the Lonely Planet USA Guide Book, 2006

Jeopardy - part II

So last week we heard about Devin getting final Jeopardy right based only on the category. Well on Friday I did something equally impressive, and yet completely pitiful.

Friday's final jeopardy category was "US Population Geography". I said "North Dakota" on the assumption that the question would be "Which state has the smallest per capita population."

Well apparently I am too smart by half. I correctly guessed question (or in Jeopardy terms, the answer), but my question (or answer) was incorrect. Final Jeopardy was in fact "Which of the lower 48 states has the smallest population per square mile" or something like that. To which Devin immediately got the right answer. The right answer which was not North Dakota.

In fact, on our recent road trip, Devin and I had discussed this very question, and he had told me the right answer. If only I had listened more closely I would have remembered. And then my story would be that I got final jeopardy right based only on the category, and not that I guessed the clue, only to come up with the wrong answer.

And for you trivia buffs out there, I have revealed the correct answer in the comments section.

a small little ranting thought

from Today's Globe and Mail

by Preston Manning

"How do Canadian cities measure up in terms of quality of life, economic performance, civic governance and leadership capacity?... In seeking answers, former Ontario premier Mike Harris and I have been examining some recent data [which] suggests that all is not well with Canada's largest city."

Hmmm.... Really? Mike Harris is examining data to try to figure out what is wrong with Toronto? Well, I imagine that this is subject he is intimately familiar with considering how much of what is wrong with Toronto today is the direct results of the Harris government policies of the 1990s. Thanks anyway Mike.

when invasive species attack

Yesterday I was hit in the leg by a rabbit.

"You hit a rabbit?"
"No, I was hit by a rabbit"

I was walking along a path, and on my left there was a garbage can. Now I guess that the garbage can blocked the rabbit's view of the path, as it ran, full speed, into the side of my leg. I must say I was quite startled. Although probably not nearly as startled as the rabbit, who after a few seconds of disorientation, continued it's full speed run across the pathway to the grass and bushes on the other side.

I thought I might end up with a giant rabbit shaped bruise on the side of my leg, but I seem to emerged from the incident unscathed. I can only hope the rabbit was as lucky.

rise and shine!

Last night I found out my friend Carly wakes up everyday at 5:00am. Just because. I get up every morning at 7:30am. She said she can't sleep in that late.

Last night I also found out my friend Carly is CRAZY!!

Reason #241 why I love my dad.

Because no one else I know would read the introduction of my thesis, which is on culture, and say:

"Gee now doesn'’t that sound like a sophisticated psychotherapeutic approach to the integration of self-states, ego states, differing cognitive-affective self-schemas, good and bad objects etc. It is the same process and prevents one state, schema or object relation from dominating the many and an awareness and appreciation of the many paradoxically leads to a stronger sense of self."

The older I get, and I more I learn, the more I realize how incredible my dad is.